EmmanuelFonoti-Fuimaono

New Zealand-Samoan tenor Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono was featured in Classic FM's Rising Stars 2026: 30 inspiring classical musicians under 30 and this autumn he will perform at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall. 

He is currently in his second year in the Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden where his roles this season include his role debut as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, First Armoured Man Die Zauberflöte and First Knight Parsifal. He also covers Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Last season, Emmanuel's roles at ROH included Pang Turandot, Borsa Rigoletto, and First Philistine Samson et Dalila. He also covered Rodolfo La bohème.

Previous operatic roles in New Zealand include Arturo Lucia di Lammermoor, Gastone La traviata, Malcolm Macbeth and Tupaia Ihitai Avei’a – Star Navigator. Other recent engagements include Gerontius/Soul in The Dream of Gerontius with Auckland Choral, tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and performing in Auckland Opera Studio's Verdi Meets Puccini gala concert. 

Emmanuel completed his vocal training at the University of Waikato, graduating with a Master’s degree through Te Pae Kōkako – The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio, where he worked closely with renowned soprano Nikki Li Hartliep. A multiple award winner, Emmanuel has received major awards across Oceania, including the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Award, the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, the Lockwood New Zealand Aria Competition, and the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Scholarship for Potential at the Lexus Song Quest (2022).